Cultivator.



UNITED STATES rAfrnNr orriou.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1905.

Application filed May 10,11905. Serial No. 259,704.

To all 1071/0711, it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR T. LYNCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Muscogee and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Cultivator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cultivators; and it has particular reference to a straddle-row cultivator adapted to be drawn by a single horse or draft-animal.

The objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of implements; and with these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes and modifications may be made when such changes fall within the scope of the invention and may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the efHciency of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is atop plan View of a cultivator constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view. Fig. 3 is a rear sectional detail view taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

An arched axle 1 of ordinary construction is provided with spindles 2 2, upon which the transporting wheels 3 3 are journaled. Clipped or otherwise suitably secured upon or connected with the spindles 2 2 near the outer ends of the latter are the draft members, which consist of a pair of thills 4 and 5, both of which are oiset upwardly and laterally, as indicated, respectively, at 6 and 7, so as to provide the necessary rise from the spindles which is requisite in order to place the thills approximately in the horizontal plane of the top of the axle-arch, the lateral offsets being for the purpose of disposing the draft to one side of the center of the axle between the Wheels. One thill 4, which may be called the inner thill, is thus disposed approximately in alinement with the longitudinal center of the machine, while the outery thill extends to one side of the outer wheel, the offset portion of said thill being of sufficient dimensions to clear the outer wheel.

The thills support a cross-bar 8, upon which is mounted a swingletree 9. A brace 10 connects the inner thill 4 with a spindle of the axle, and another brace 11 connects the bolt 9, whereby the swingletree is supported with the near spindle, thus causing a direct draft.

Firmly secured upon the upper side of the inner thill, between the latter and the crossbar 8, is a resilient bar of steel 12, which extends rearwardly, as shown. This springbar rests upon the axle-arch and is connected with the latter by means of a clip 13, and the rear end of said spring-bar, which extends a suitable distance in rear of the axle, carries a cross-bar 14, provided near its ends with depending hook members 15.

Supported for rotation upon the spindles 2, adjacent to the axle-arch, are cuffs 16, with which clips 16 at the front ends of the cultivator-beams 17 are connected by vertical pivots 18, thus permitting said beams to swing in a horizontal plane, as Well as in vertical planes. Said cultivator beams are provided with inwardly-offset portions 19, and at their rear ends they are downturned in the usual manner to form plow-carrying' standards 20,having outwardly-offset handles 20', whereby they may be manipulated as the machine passes over the ground. Said beams, being universally jointed to the axle in the simple manne-r described,may be readily adjusted and manipulated to operate adjacent to the row of growing plants. The beams 17 have eyes 21, which are connected adjustably by means of chains 22 with the hook members 15. Said beams are also provided with additional eyes 23, adapted for direct engagement with said hook members when it shall be desired to support the cultivating implements in an elevated position for transportation.

The lower ends of the standards carry pivoted shanks 24, upon the lower ends of which the earth-engaging implements 25 are secured. Said shanks are provided at their upper ends IOO with segment-plates 26, having perforations 2T concentric with the pivots of the shanks for the reception of ln'eak-pins, as 28, whereby they are connected with the standards. If obstructions should be encountered, the breakpins will yield, and injury to the plows will be averted.

The vmethod of connecting the handles with the-beams will be best understood by reference to Fig. 4. Secured to the sides of each beam are half-round strips 2T, and connected with the handles are clips or clamping members 28, havingsemicireular offsets 29 engaging the strips 2T, upon which they may be clamped by means of bolts 30, thus enabling' the handles to he mounted at various angles, and thereby to be adapted to wide or narrow cultivators, as may be required.

From the foregoing description, talen in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

Straddle-row cultivators as heretofore constructed have usually required two draft-animals. Under this invention an extremely light and serviceable cultivator is provided, which is adapted to be drawn by one animal, the draft being disposed to one side of' the longitudinal center of the machine, whereby the draft-animal is enabled to walk between the rows. It is obvious that the machine may be constructed either right or left, so as to cause the draft-animal to walk at whichever side may be preferred. By means of the chains 22 the cultivator-beams may be supported at any elevation desired, thereby regulating the degree of penetration into the soil. At the same time it will be remembered that the supporting-bar 12 is resilient, so that in case of necessity the operator will be enabled to depress the earth-engaging blades by simply exerting pressure in a downward direction upon the handles. The cultivators may be readily manipulated to stir the soil at any desired distance from the growing plants, and this freedom of movement is also very desirable when it comes to eradicating weeds that may grow in the spaces between the rows. When such weeds have attained considerable size, it is oftentimes necessary to depress the cultivating implement considerably in order that they may be thoroughly uprooted, and to this end the supportingstructure herein described is extremely adaptable, the beams being connected with the ends of the crossbar 14, supported by the resilient bar 12, which latter will yield not only to mere vertical depression, but to a torsional strain as well.

The construction ofI the improved device is extremely simple, and it may be manufactured and marketed at a moderate expense.

ported axle, thills having offset portions connected with said axle one of said thills being disposed approximately in the central longitudinal plane of' the machine, and a resilient impleinent-supporting bar extending rearwardly from said thill.

2. In a cultivator, an arched wheel-supported axle, thills having offset portions connected with said axle one of said thills being disposed approximately in the central longitudinal plane of' the machine, a resilient implement-supporting bar extendingrearwardly from said thill, and a cross-bar connecting the thills and having one end extended across the resilient bar.

'8. In a cultivator, an arched wheel-supported axle, thills having offset portions connected with said axle one of said thills being disposed approximately in the central longitudinal plane of the machine, and a resilient implement supporting' bar connected with said thill and supported upon and connected with the axle-arch.

1L. In a cultivator, an arched wheel-supported axle, a pair of laterally-offset thills one of said thills being disposedapproximately centrally in front of the axle, a rearwardlyextending resilient bar connected with said thill and supported upon and connected with the axle-arch, and an implement-supporting cross-bar supported by the rear end of the resilient bar.

5. In a cultivator, an arched wheel-supported axle, a pair of laterally-offset thills one of said thills being disposed approximately centrally in -f'ront of the axle, a rearwardlyextending resilient bar connected with said thill and supported upon and connected with the axle-arch, an implement-supporting crossbar supported at the rear end of the resilient bar and having depending hook members, and cultivator-beams iiexibly connected with the axle and having chains and eyes adapted for engagement with the hook members.

6. In a cultivator of the class described, an arched axle, cuffs mounted for rotation upon said axle, cultivator-beams connected for lateral movement with said cuffs, a resilient supporting-bar having an implement-supporting cross-bar, and means for adjustably supportingI the cultivator-beams from said crossbar.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VIUOR T. LYNCH.

i'if'itnesses:

A. A. DAwsoN, Ann L. KOTZKY.

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